creative writing class near me

Creative Writing

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Online Courses

Online courses: creative writing.

The Online Creative Writing Program makes it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford’s writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible. These courses are open to all adults, and we encourage all levels of writers to enroll.

Creative Writing

Find out what's happening in Creative Writing Meetup groups around the world and start meeting up with the ones near you.

Creative Writing groups near you

San jose writers.

454 Writers

World Forge Writers: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Writers' Support

238 Members

Newest Creative Writing groups

Started Mar 5 in Belton, USA

Female Coaches and Entrepreneurs: Write and Publish a Book

Started Mar 4 in Brooklyn, USA

Boulder Writers Meetup Group

Started Mar 4 in Boulder, USA

Touched with Fire for Writers based on Kay Redfield Jamison

Started Mar 3 in Portland, USA

Writers Who Read - Katy

Started Mar 2 in Katy, USA

Writing Retreats - FNQ

Started Mar 1 in Cairns, Australia

The Art of Brevity: Writing workshop with Grant Faulkner The Art of Brevity: Writing workshop with Grant Faulkner

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Open Enrollment

Writer’s Studio

A haven for writers of all genres and ambitions, the Writer’s Studio offers engaging courses taught by eminent practitioners.

A woman writes in a notebook while chatting with four classmates on Zoom.

Hone your craft. Tell your story.

The Writer’s Studio at the University of Chicago is home to a community of writers and instructors passionate about the written word. Through classes, events, and certificate programs, the Studio connects writers of all genres and ability levels in creative and effective writing.

Classes are designed to support, inspire, and challenge writers across experience levels. Whether you are new to creative writing or polishing your professional prose, the Writer's Studio will help you take your writing to the next level.

Courses in the Writer’s Studio are offered in a mix of online and in-person formats. All courses are capped at 14 students to promote deeper conversation and provide ample time for review of written work.

Our methodology is inspired by more than 130 years of leadership at the University of Chicago in the craft of writing.

Three adult students participate in a writing workshop.

The Writer’s Studio community is comprised of students, alumni, distinguished authors, and eminent instructors. In addition to courses and certificate programs, we also offer ongoing events to encourage new relationships and sustained learning. Students and alumni of the Writer’s Studio are also warmly welcomed into larger Graham School community events and opportunities.

View All Articles

Writing from Life: Poetry as Story

In a new writing workshop designed to elevate diverse voices, Writer’s Studio instructor Dr. Dipika Mukherjee champions poetry and the too often discounted value of personal experiences.

March 2, 2023

The cover of Perdita Felicien's memoir, My Mother's Daughter: A Memoir of Struggle and Triumph.

How an Olympian Turned Her Tales of Trial and Triumph into a Best-Selling Memoir

Perdita Felicien—champion hurdler, Olympian, television host, speaker, and now, author—finds a creative home in Graham's Writer's Studio.

September 6, 2022

Best-Selling Author Helps Students Craft Compelling Nonfiction

New York Times best-seller Jennifer Keishin Armstrong brings her literary skills to a new Graham course titled Writing Nonfiction: Turning Facts Into Gripping Scenes.

August 19, 2022

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Hi. I’m Craig.

I am a professional writer and educator for 20+ years. i’m here to say writing is not enrichment. it is essential., we are living in a new era. creative thinking is crucial to survive and prosper. so why is creative writing still called an “elective”, it deserves to be the cornerstone..

If your child loves to write and wants more creative stimulation and mentoring, you are in the right place. If your child avoids writing like the plague because it’s too hard to organize thoughts or they just simply don’t like it, you are in the right place. If your child is dealing with emotional challenges, finding it hard to open up and needs something therapeutic, you are in the right place.

Courses and classes, all classes are virrtual, writing foundations level 1, all ages & levels.

Most writing classes for kids focus on form and outer structure – Word Up Kids’ technique focuses on the inner form. Where do ideas come from? How do we bridge the gap between thought and expression? Why is finding the inner voice so hard?

We take the mystery out of writing and make it simple – and endlessly fun. Students have the option to publish their work in our Anthology series or in their own book.

My method is individualized based on your child’s age and needs.

Schedule:

Session 1 June 8 – June 29 Tuesdays 4.30-5.30pm Ages 7-12 June 9 – June 30 Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm Ages 13 and Up

Session 2 July 6 – July 27 Tuesdays 4.30-5.30pm Ages 7-12 July 7 – July 28 Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm Ages 13 and Up

Session 3 August 3 – August 24 Tuesdays Ages 7-12 August 4 – August 25 Wednesdays Ages 13 and Up

4 weeks, 1 class per week | $300.

All classes are virtual.

HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE PREP

Most courses on writing consider the main purpose of writing to be communication. Few courses see writing as a way of shaping thought.

Yes, writing needs to be a clear, direct communication of thought and ideas. But many of our thoughts first come into clarity only after the pen hits the paper.

This course provides high school and college students with a method for bridging the gap between thinking and writing that will prevent falling into writer’s block. It will dramatically improve one’s ability to come up with and express ideas, and be of great educational and practical value.

Session 2 July 6 – July 27 Tuesdays 5.30-6.30pm (High School) July 8 – July 29 Thursdays 5-6pm (College)

4 weeks, 1 class per week | $300

Private sessions & mentoring, 1 to 1 tutoring, (or build your own class).

If you are looking for 1 to 1 writing mentoring – or wish to build your own class – this is for you. These sessions will be tailored to your writing goals and schedule needs. Students have the option of publishing their work in our Word Up Kids Anthology series, or work on creating their own book.

Price: $125/hr. solo | $150/hr. duo | $175/hr. trio

FAMILY WRITER’S CIRCLE

I have tried to create the workshop I have most wanted to attend with my own family. In these interactive sessions I’ve designed interpersonal writing and sharing exercises that help family members take off their masks in a safe space so that they can better see, hear, understand and love one another.

The family that writes together…

Price: $200 per hour

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Lafayette Writers' Studio

Adult classes

adult classes

We are honored to offer a range of creative writing classes from one-night sessions to intensive courses and writing workshops that meet on a weekly or monthly basis. Whatever your writing goals, we have a class for you.

“ “The Lafayette Writers’ Studio classes I’ve taken have built not only my skills as a writer, they have increased my confidence in my own style and helped me find my voice. I can’t recommend the classes highly enough.” ”

“ It is amazing how much I got out of a one-month class. ”

Story starts with character. In flash, word count limit and pressure the writer to create characters quickly, but specifically and uniquely if they want to form dynamic and affecting stories. The character is often our vehicle for the camera and the point of view. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to reveal characters through their relationships with other characters, to show the fissures in relationships, and the tension in counterpointed or opposite characters to create tension and conflict, to build resonance, and a sense of possibility.

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Writers often hear the advice that they must “find their voice,” which is confounding—because how has it been lost, and where is it hiding? Sonya Huber will show you another way to writing with voice, via her new book Voice First: A Writer’s Manifesto, which explores the theory and practice of multi-vocality in writing, with generous prompts, a splash of memoir, and multiple moods and perspectives. The idea that we each have only one voice is limiting, stifles creativity, and may even lead to writer’s block. Writers in all genres will benefit from surprising exercises that awaken a range of voices each write can access.

The last thing we want to talk about is our shame. Or maybe even more often, it’s the last thing our loved ones want us to speak about. But writing our most challenging topics helps to diminish our shame and connect us to others who have faces similar situations. In this craft talk/generative workshop, we will explore ways to turn our scars into art, even if others prefer our silence.

The perfect gift for every writer! Purchasing this digital gift card creates a unique code. The gift card recipient can enter this code at checkout to subtract the gift card value from their order total.

This gift card never expires.

“ I have taken several classes at Lafayette Writers’ Studio, from one-day workshops to weekly classes spanning months. All have been inspiring. The Studio directly helped me take myself more seriously as a writer, and gave me the fortitude to apply and then enroll in an MFA program. I recommend taking a class to reinvigorate your writing practice, give you new ideas and a path forward, and to meet other writers and feel part of a community. Take advantage of this treasure! ”

Sign up for our monthly newsletter and receive a free lesson on the craft of writing: How to Establish a Sustainable Writing Practice.

Calling all lovers of words–written, spoken, drawn, or performed on stage!

Come find your people! Join GrubStreet’s Young Adult Writers Program (YAWP), where high school students from all over the greater Boston area gather to craft their stories, share their ideas, and cheer each other on! YAWP offers three types of programs: free Saturday writing sessions, Teen Writing Classes (during winter, spring, and summer vacations), and a three-week summer Teen Writing Fellowship .

Want to find out more about our teen programs? Join our YAWP mailing list for all the latest news, and read former teen fellow Ruth Ballard's blog on the GrubWrites about why Grub's teen programs have been so important to young writers like her.

Saturday Sessions (In-Person or Online)

One Saturday each month, we offer FREE creative writing workshops on a wide variety of topics, led by our wonderful teen writing instructors. Join a group of likeminded teens to explore poetry, fiction, memoir, slam poetry, songwriting, playwriting, and much more! Learn more .

Teen Summer Writing Classes (In-Person or Online)

Our summer weeklong classes take place Mondays through Fridays from 10:30-3:30pm in-person at our beautiful new Center for Creative Writing or online via Zoom, so you can join the YAWP summer experience however you want! Check out all of our Teen Summer Week-longs here . Scholarships are available and abundant for every single class. There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can apply for. When in doubt, give it a shot!

Summer Teen Writing Fellowship

YAWP's Summer Teen Writing Fellowship immerses high school students in the writers' world of creative craft and publishing. During three intensive weeks at GrubStreet, teens work with published authors on original prose and poetry, meet with literary agents and editors, take field trips to inspirational locales like the ICA, and chat with popular contemporary authors. In the spirit of writers' residencies for adults, all teens will receive a $625 stipend for their commitment to the program and their time spent as working writers.

Weekly Writing Prompts

In need of some inspiration? Opt-in to receive weekly writing prompts and writing exercises (via email or snail mail, your choice)! These prompts are created especially for teens by YAWP instructors. Simply fill out this form .You can view all past writing prompts here.

If you have questions or need help selecting a course, please call (617) 675 9632 , or email us at [email protected] .

We've moved!

Learn more about GrubStreet's new Center for Creative Writing.

+44 (0) 1892 710877

Want to Complete Your Creative Writing Project Without Years of Hard Work and Frustration?

Want to turbo-charge your creative writing and finish writing your stories or scripts more quickly, a personalised and inspiring way to achieve your writing goals, at the writers college, we’ll help you achieve your creative writing goals in the shortest time possible. if you are tired of second-guessing every phrase you write, and looking for ways to establish an engaging, effective writing routine, our writing programmes can help take the 'pain' out of the writing process. in the last 15 years we’ve taught thousands of novelists, poets, scriptwriters and children’s authors how to polish their writing and get published, without wasted time and effort. we’ve helped students of all ages and backgrounds achieve impressive results, and we can do the same for you., here are a few of our student successes:.

Follow One of Our Specialised Creative Writing Programmes and Avoid Common Writing Mistakes

Completing your novel, screenplay or short story can be easier than you think. many writers simply don’t know the best approach to take, resulting in frustration, lack of motivation and blocked creativity. at the writers college, we’ve done the difficult groundwork for you. all you need to do is follow our course programme, and implement the individual feedback you receive from your tutor, to complete your creative writing project. you won’t just save time and effort either. by harnessing your award-winning tutor’s insider tips and expertise, you can most likely unlock far better creative results than you’d be able to achieve on your own. we’ve taken decades of writing experience by our team of award-winning writers and compressed it into comprehensive, effective programmes that you can complete at your own pace. plus our students consistently tell us how fun, stimulating and challenging our courses are, what our students say, here’s a brief outline of what we cover in our courses.

Anyone, of any age, can acquire the tools needed to kick-start their project or drive it to completion.

We’ll impart the skills you need to harness your imagination, super-charge your approach and polish your final draft. whether you’re fresh out of high school, a confident writer aiming to fast-track their manuscript, or newly retired with time and energy for a personal project, our one-to-one feedback and expertise will boost your writing progress., do you have what it takes to be a writer, you’ll never know unless you try, our creative writing courses for 2021:, the basics of creative writing, the advanced creative writing course, short story writing for magazines, literary short and flash fiction, the write a novel course, an introduction to poetry, the scriptwriting course, the writing for video games course, writing books for children | part one, writing books for children | part two, the write your memoir course, want to transform your writing, the courses below are follow-on courses aimed at completing a full manuscript or anthology., advanced short story writing, the advanced write a novel course, the advanced poetry course, the advanced scriptwriting course, the advanced memoir course, want help choosing your writing course, we would love to help you choose the best course for you. tell us what style of writing you want to develop and we'll give you some options., want to transform your writing get your free report, journalism courses, writing articles for websites and blogs, freelance journalism for magazines and webzines, advanced freelance journalism, travel writing, write a non-fiction book, creative writing courses, basics of creative writing, advanced creative writing, write a novel, write a romance novel, advanced novel writing, writing science fiction and fantasy course, advanced poetry, scriptwriting, advanced scriptwriting, writing for video games, write your memoir, advanced memoir writing, the writers' marketing and publishing toolkit, from idea to publication in 36 months, business & grammar, grammar for writers (english 1st language), grammar skills (english 2nd language), business writing toolkit, writing coach course, mastering punctuation, report writing and presentation, write better newsletters, specialist courses, copy-editing and proofreading, press release and media writing, copywriting, writing seo copy for websites, self-publish your e-book, writing intensives, 14-day creative writing intensive, self-guided 14-day creative writing intensive, self-guided 14-day story building intensive, free 5-day creative writing challenge, buy a gift voucher, writing services, writers and editors for hire, how we train, terms and conditions, privacy policy, connect with us, © 2005 - 2023 the writers college all rights reserved, +44 (0)1892 710877, [email protected], how can we help, we would love to chat to you if you have any questions about our courses. if you need advice about the best course for you, drop us a line below or email us at [email protected], we look forward to hearing from you..

The 10 Best Online Creative Writing Classes of 2023

Best Online Creative Writing Classes badge

The stereotype of the writer starving in their garret while waiting for inspiration to strike is far from the truth for today’s authors. Writers work in many fields, and the best of them get where they are through education and practice. A good writing course will feature a knowledgeable instructor, along with the opportunity to practice the skills they are teaching. To help you determine the best one for your own needs, we’ve sifted through the top options and reviewed the 10 best online writing courses below.

Our Ranking Criteria

The best online writing courses offer you the chance to take your natural writing skills and shape them into a form that will open the doors in your chosen field. Whether you want to pen tv sitcom scripts or write the next great American novel, the best online writing course for you will take you further than you would be able to go on your own, helping you develop professional-level skills that will allow you to obtain the job of your choice. We based our decisions for the best courses on the following criteria.

Basic Ranking Criteria

There’s no one factor that makes a writing course the best. Instead we looked at multiple aspects for each of 74 online classes and factored them all into our final ranking. In our first pass, we looked at basic ranking criteria:

Time to complete. Although it’s important to have the time you need to thoroughly understand what you’re learning, no one wants to spend more time in class than is necessary. Some of our chosen classes are self-paced, others take less than an hour to one year.

Prerequisites required. None of our finalists has any prerequisites, which means that anyone with a basic understanding of the English language can participate and learn. If you do have previous writing experience, all the better — but it’s not necessary.

Flexible schedule. All but two of our choices feature a flexible schedule. Your life is busy, and for most people it is difficult to have to sign into the course at a specific time. Eight of our chosen courses allow you to take the classes and do the work as you are able, at a time that’s convenient for you.

Certificate of completion. A certificate of completion is not standard for writing courses. However, if one is available, it is often a plus to add the certificate to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Advanced Ranking Criteria

Once we reviewed results for the basic ranking criteria, we looked at more advanced features which are specific to the topics of the courses. Since many of our finalists have different focuses (such as children’s literature or creative writing), we were more concerned that they each covered their topic completely, rather than covering the same things as the other courses.

10 Best Online Writing Courses Courses or Bootcamps

Coursera creative writing specialization by wesleyan university.

Intelligent Award: Top Pick

Coursera’s business model is somewhat different from many online education companies. It partners with established colleges and universities to offer classes at the higher-ed level. You don’t earn college credit for many courses, but can gain valuable certificates by completing specializations. The Creative Writing specialization consists of five courses that focus on three genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir. Within those genres, you’ll learn about crafting characters and settings, writing descriptions, and developing your style, followed by a capstone class that will result in a completed story, essay or memoir. Throughout the specialization, you’ll have access to peer readers who can critique your work and suggest improvements. The course is taught by faculty at Wesleyan University who are published authors and trained in the creative writing process.

Who should take this course? This course is best for writers wishing to jumpstart or fire up their creative projects with college-level coursework.

Udemy Secret Sauce of Great Writing

Intelligent Award: Most Affordable

One of the better-known names in the online education industry, Udemy offers both paid and free courses, and, as of April 2021, had more than 40 million students. As you might imagine, an undertaking that vast will have a broad range of quality among its products. One of the company’s many courses on writing, The Secret Sauce of Great Writing stands out. Taught by former Wall Street Journal editor Shani Raja, the class focuses on what Raja believes are the four ingredients of good writing: simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness. Understanding and using these four ingredients, Raja says, will take your writing from the mundane to the inspiring. And at this price — it’s free! — and with a minimal time commitment (the course runs less than an hour), it is a great way to give your writing a boost and possibly learn some techniques that can enhance your output, whether you’re writing press releases or your autobiography.

Who should take this course? Anyone looking for a short, inspirational course at no cost.

MasterClass Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television on MasterClass

Intelligent Award: Best for Multimedia Writing

Our top pick from MasterClass is Shonda Rhimes MasterClass on writing for television, although there are a number of excellent options for writers, including courses taught by Neil Gaiman, David Sedaris, and Joyce Carol Oates. Rhimes packs a lot into her 30 lessons, including how to create a compelling character, script structure, and writing authentic dialogue. But she also takes it beyond writing instruction, discussing editing, breaking into the industry, and showrunning, among other TV-centric topics. Your annual membership to MasterClass also gives you access to a pdf workbook and the opportunity to download the classes and watch them offline. Rhimes is one of the biggest names in television today and an engaging speaker who seems to relish letting learners in on all the secrets that got her to where she is today.

Who should take this course? Best for those with some script-writing experience, or anyone who wants to try their luck with the notoriously-difficult-to-break-into world of TV writing.

The Novelry Writing for Children

Intelligent Award: Best for Children’s Literature

The Novelry offers several programs for children’s writers, ranging from the Classic Course Box Set, which allows you to work through 45 lessons at your own speed for $365, up to The Book in a Year Plan, which guides you from planning, creating, and writing a children’s novel to publishing within a year (costs $1,999). The latter includes nine one-on-one sessions with a children’s fiction tutor to help you shape your creation — a valuable benefit for budding writers. An interactive platform allows you to ask questions or add comments online. Classes are 15-20 minutes in length, and the company recommends that you allow one hour a day for your writing. The platform keeps track of your progress and offers feedback as you go.

Who should take this course? If you already have a great plan for a novel, the Book in a Year plan is ideal. If you’re still searching for an idea on which you can build a novel, try the Classic Course.

Writer’s Digest University Creative Writing 101

Intelligent Award: Best for Beginners

If you are at the very start of your writing career, you should consider checking out Writer’s Digest University. A venerable name in the writing world, Writer’s Digest has been publishing a magazine for writers since 1920, and it has the professional chops to offer solid, comprehensive courses to both beginners and experienced writers. Creative Writing 101 is geared toward those who have an idea and the urge to write, but are not sure where to begin. The classes lead you in shaping your protagonist and antagonist and fleshing out the plot of the story while addressing common writerly concerns such as determining point of view and how to motivate yourself to write. The 12 sessions are available for $579.99, which is a bit on the steep side for what you receive, but the quality of the courses is generally excellent.

Who should take this course? Those who are at the beginning of their writing career without a strong sense of direction. It’s also good for established writers who would like a refresher on topics such as imagery and dialogue.

Bookfox Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book

Two Weeks to Your Best Children's Book on Bookfox

Intelligent Award: Best Editorial Support

Bookfox is the brainchild of John Matthew Fox, a former college professor, editor, and writer, who well understands the ins and outs of the publishing world. His courses, which include Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book, are packed with information. They delve far beyond the actual writing process, and include how to generate book ideas, the revision process, and, perhaps most importantly, how to successfully publish your book. He also touches on topics including finding an illustrator and agent as well as what you should know if you decide to self-publish. Fox himself teaches each class. The self-paced children’s book class has 14 lessons, which take anywhere from two weeks up to one year. As a one-man operation, Bookfox doesn’t have the highly-polished look and feel of companies like MasterClass, but Fox’s knowledge base more than makes up for his website’s lack of bells and whistles.

Who should take this course? Anyone who wants comprehensive information on the editorial and publishing process.

CreativeLive Writing Your Story

Intelligent Award: Best for Memoir Writing

CreativeLive’s Memoir course, called “Writing Your Story,” is taught by celebrated novelist and memorist Joyce Maynard, who first came to public recognition following her account of her affair with J.D. Salinger, At Home in the World . She’s written several other books of an autobiographical nature along with 11 novels. Her teaching style is engaging and idiosyncratic, and involves numerous stories from her own life. If that piques your curiosity, you’ll find her course engaging and informative, with 26 lessons that range from 5-30 minutes long and discuss how to determine what to write, how to write it, and how to handle criticism and rejection. If you enjoy Maynard’s style of teaching, note that there are several other courses taught by her, including How to Write a Full-Length Memoir and How to Write a Personal Essay.

Who should take this course? A great option for anyone who wants to tell their own story.

Grammar Lion A Grammar Refresher for All Writers & Editors

A Grammar Refresher for All Writers & Editors on Grammar Lion

Intelligent Award: Best for Grammar Review

Having a great story to tell is important, but unless you have the basic building blocks of writing, you won’t be able to tell it. This means paying attention to grammar, and it’s what the Grammar Lion Grammar Refresher course offers. Appropriate both for those who need to learn about grammar as well as accomplished writers looking for a review of basic material, the course starts out by identifying the parts of speech, reviews sentence structure, delves into verb forms, and discusses shifts in person, tense, and structure. One whole lesson is given to matters of clarity and logic, and course extras include helpful resources and a favorite books list. The instructor is Ellen Feld, an author, editor, and educator who has taught more than 44,000 students in her online grammar refresher courses. You can connect to Feld via a discussion forum or by private email. She also offers one-on-one editing services for an additional fee.

Who should take this course? Beginners who are learning grammar for the first time and experienced writers who need a refresh in the building blocks of language.

LitReactor Writing the Weird

Intelligent Award: Best Online Community

LitReactor’s courses are hip and decidedly off-center. Take, for example, the course Writing the Weird, taught by J.S. Breukelaar, a finalist for the Ladies of Horror Fiction award and author of Collision . Enrollment is limited to 16 students, who take a deep dive into surreal, fantastic, and otherwise bizarre literature to find and write the human elements that make a story stand out. The four week course is divided into four topics: humanity, structure, setting, and resolution. You’ll explore the work of writers from Kelly Link to Matt Bell, and discover how conventional narrative can be a starting point for delving into innovative and speculative fiction. Each week you’ll be given writing assignments that will be critiqued by Breukelaar and your classmates, and in the fourth and last week, you’ll develop a story from start to finish based on what you’ve learned. Depending on your job title, this class may be the least likely to get you a raise. But it just may be the most fun of all our finalists.

Who should take this course? Anyone with a taste for the off-beat and a willingness to stretch themselves and think outside of the box.

Gotham Writers Workshop Fiction Writing Level 1

Fiction Writing Level 1 on Gotham Writers Workshop

Intelligent Award: Best Supporting Materials

Gotham Writers Workshop has made a name for itself in the NYC region with in-person and Zoom classes, but it also offers well-regarded online classes. Level I classes, such as Fiction Writing I, max out with 16 students per class, so you are guaranteed personal attention from the instructor. Level II and III classes (which include the continuation of the Fiction Writing series), have a maximum of 14 students. You can access each class and do the accompanying exercises anytime during the week for the 10 week workshops. The online interface makes it easy to submit work and read critiques from instructors and fellow students. Lessons are text-based rather than video, and there is a wealth of accompanying materials, such as reading lists and podcasts, to help you extend your learning experience.

Who should take this course? Anyone who prefers text-based lessons; those who want to interact personally with their instructor and peers.

Online Course Comparison Chart

Tips for succeeding in an online writing course, 1. consider the cost, how much do online writing classes cost.

Online writing courses are offered at a broad range of price points, our cheapest option is free, and the highest is nearly $2K. Generally, the more personal one-on-one time you have with an editor or your instructor, the more you’ll pay. LitReactor, for example, has a vibrant online community and regular feedback from your instructor, and costs $350 for the roughly four-week class.

Many of our choices are paid for in one lump sum when you sign up. A few, however, follow Coursera’s model of charging by the month or year. Also, keep in mind that some of our choices, such as MasterClass, give you access to all courses for the membership fee. So, if you have the time and interest, your $180 annual fee at MasterClass could net you literally dozens of courses in a range of topics.

Will my employer pay for me to take the course?

If you work in the communications industry, or in any industry that values good, clear writing skills, you may be able to have all or part of your writing course fees paid for by your employer, especially if you can show them how the course will benefit them. It’s worth asking your boss or your HR supervisor if they will help out with the cost.

2. Get your tech squared away

You shouldn’t need any special software or hardware to take an online writing course. You will need a good internet connection and a computer that is loaded with the most recent version of your chosen browser and system files. Most courses are formatted to work on both desktop computers and other devices, such as your tablet or smartphone. One handy app if you use Google Chrome is the company’s Video Speed Controller , which allows you to speed up or slow down HTML5 video, as needed.

3. Use the right study resources

One resource that many writers swear by is a good style guide. There are several of these, and you can generally find out which style guide your company uses with a quick question to the marketing or communications department. Here are the most common:

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Courses

What jobs can you get after completing a writing course.

Few people are full-time authors. But the vast majority of professions, from legal work to health care, require those who can write clearly and concisely. According to the government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook , a full-time writer earns an average of $67,120 a year — but you can earn significantly more, depending on your job skills and professional area.

Are there free online writing courses?

Yes. In fact, one of our ten best choices is Udemy, which offers a broad range of free courses. In general, however, the old adage about how you get what you pay for holds true — the best, most well-designed courses will usually have a cost attached to them.

How long is the average online writing course?

Online writing courses vary from less than an hour to up to a year. Since most offer a flexible schedule, you can do them when you have time available. Keep in mind that in addition to lectures you’ll be watching or reading, you may also have exercises to complete, which take additional time.

Are online writing courses worth it?

They can be. Like many things in life, you will get as much out of it as you put into it. If you are taking a course for personal enrichment, all our chosen courses should benefit you. If you’re looking for professional advancement, a course with a certificate of completion may be a good idea, so you can show the certificate to your boss when done.

What are the best online writing courses?

There are probably hundreds of online writing courses — we looked at nearly 75 for this review. The best online writing courses are the ones we’ve featured above. The best writing course for your needs will depend on what you are looking to get out of it. If you’re hoping to write a best-selling children’s book, for example, the best writing class might not be Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass. You’d be better off choosing an option like The Novelry’s program or John Matthew Fox’s Bookfox.

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10 Best Creative Writing Courses to Take in 2023

Here is a guide with the best Creative Writing courses. Learn how to tell your story and engage your readers with great storytelling.

If you are searching for an up-to-date list of online courses in Creative Writing, you’ve come to the right place. I present to you this guide with the best courses built from Class Central’s catalog of Creative Writing courses and selected according to a proven methodology that you can check below.

But if you want to skip the read, here are my top picks:

What is Creative Writing?

Creative Writing is a way to convey feelings and emotions in the reader. Traditionally used in literature, it’s increasingly been used in other types of writing to keep readers engaged. In that sense, it’s a powerful tool for copywriting, storytelling, novels, poems and so on.

Imagine you are sitting at your computer and you need to send an article to your editor in a couple of days. You look at your keyboard and then swiftly move your eyes to the cursor blinking on the screen. “At least I’ve already put a title on it” you say aloud. You hear a sound and from the window you see some kids playing outside. You put on some shoes, grab your pocket-size-notebook and pen and walk through the door. “Some fresh air is all I need… How am I gonna keep this gig If I can’t even get started? Maybe, I am not supposed to be a writer, I should have kept working with Uncle John. The money was ok to bear with his constant bad mood.” You keep thinking as you look around and realize you’re in a park where people are having a picnic. “Holy moly, it’s Sunday. You know what? I’m gonna enjoy the rest of the afternoon here.” You lie down on the grass and start to hear people’s laugh, it’s a family riding bikes down the lane. Birds are playing in the trees above your head. You tap in your front pocket where your notebook is, take the pen with it and scribble some words as the fresh air touches your face and blows your hair. “Why does it have to be so difficult for me while others can write so easily? I lack the words, the feeling, the depth, the soul.” you write, and the notebook talks back to you controlling your hands like a puppeteer: “Don’t worry, you can take it out of your chest. But, tell me: why do you want to be a writer? What are your dreams?” asks the wise notebook… And now it’s time for you to answer and continue this story!

Creative writing is a skill that can be learned and practiced just like any other. In this short story, which represents a novice writer’s everyday struggle, I’ve used the following techniques: ABDCE structure, 2nd person point of view, “show don’t tell”, dialogues, trope, and object personification.

What is the importance of creative writing? Research has shown that professional writers’ brains work differently from novice writers’. Creative writing has been shown to increase resilience in students . So, if you want to reap most of the benefits of writing, you need to create the habit of jotting down your words and thoughts, and possibly it will help you overcome the writer’s block.

Creative writing is so powerful that It has been used in prison to give the incarcerated population an opportunity to express their voices in programs like PEN America : “by providing resources, mentorship, and audiences outside the walls, we help these writers to join and enrich the broader literary community”.

What exactly entails creative writing? According to Wikipedia , “creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or with various traditions of poetry and poetics. Due to the looseness of the definition, it is possible for writing such as feature stories to be considered creative writing, even though they fall under journalism, because the content of features is specifically focused on narrative and character development.” Therefore, creative writing has a broad scope. In this ranking, I hope to show some of its facets.

Course Ranking Methodology

I followed a three-step process to build this ranking:

First , I’m part of Class Central , the leading search engine for online courses. We have a database of 100K online courses and over 200K crowdsourced reviews. So it seemed like the natural starting point.

I started by leveraging the database to make a preliminary selection of Creative Writing courses, looking at things like ratings, reviews, and course bookmarks. So this was a purely data-driven step, relying on hard metrics to create an initial ranking that we could then iterate upon and expand.

Using this approach, some of the top picks rapidly became apparent, since the best courses tend to have rave reviews. But I didn’t stop there. Ratings and reviews rarely tell the whole story. So the next step was to bring my personal knowledge of online education into the mix.

Second , I used my experience as an online learner to evaluate each of the preliminary picks.

I’ve participated in a few online writing challenges and in-person workshops. My profile on NaNoWriMo was created in Nov 2012. Therefore, I have taken enough courses to tell apart the ones worth spending your time.

Third , during my research, I came across courses that felt well-made but weren’t well-known. If I adopted a purely data-centric approach, I would have to leave those courses out of the ranking, if only because they had fewer enrollments.

Instead, I favored a holistic approach. I’ve included more personal picks that hopefully surprise those of you who have already seen or taken the more popular Creative Writing courses and are looking for something a bit different as in “10-day Journaling Challenge” and some nonfiction writing courses.

After going through this process — combining Class Central data, my experience as a lifelong learner, and a lot of editing — we arrived at our final ranking. So far, I’ve spent more than 16 hours building this ranking, and I intend to continue updating it in the future.

Course Ranking Statistics

Here are some aggregate stats about the ranking:

1. Creative Writing by Brandon Sanderson (YouTube)

My first pick for the best creative writing course is for Creative Writing by Brandon Sanderson .

Brandon Sanderson is a prolific writer and recently he’s dropped a whole series of secret novels he wrote during the pandemic. You can check his explanation in the video It’s Time to Come Clean . Besides being an awesome writer, Sanderson has also made available a full course in creative writing on YouTube with the most crucial tools for any beginner or even experienced writers. It’s comprehensive and rich in content with great sound-video quality.

What you’ll learn

Brandon Sanderson starts his first lecture on his philosophy in teaching writing by saying: “so here’s the thing. I can’t teach you how to be a writer. I just can’t. Writing is a skill that you have to practice on your own. And I can generally give you some nudges, some tips, some hints, and some tools. And that is my focus in this class. It’s a focus on giving you as many tools as you can possibly hold, as many as I can give you, so that when you are doing your own writing you have them in hand and can try different things out. The longer I’ve been a professional novelist, the more I’ve realized that these sorts of tools are really handy for troubleshooting, even for me in my career right now. If I have a problem in a book, I go back to these sorts of fundamentals that I talk about in the class.”

How you’ll learn

The tools will be covered in each video, so you might refer back to them any time or watch it all in one sitting. It’s up to you. I personally recommend you to take your time, experiment with each new concept on your own, or even better, find a writing partner or alpha reader, someone who can read your stuff without being overly judgmental of your progression.

The lectures will cover the following topics: Plot, Viewpoint, Worldbuilding, Short Stories, Characters, and Publishing.

Brandon Sanderson has launched a kickstarter project this year that has received over $25M in 7 days.

If you’re interested in this course, you can find more information about the course and how to enroll here.

2. Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot (Wesleyan University)

My second pick is for Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot by Wesleyan University.

This course is for those looking for a way to improve their writing structure. It starts by defining what a plot is, then, how structure and outlines can help organize the stories you want to tell, how to write effective scenes and the twenty-one point checklist for revision and editing. It’s somewhat a short course, with writing practice (for paying learners) and insightful interviews. It’s worth your time and effort in case you are a messy writer like myself, it brings valuable tools for your planning, structuring, and editing.

This course provides a framework for your plot, how you can structure your plot and each specific scene and it ends with editing and revision.

Some other topics covered in this course: ABDCE Structure, How Structure and Outlines Can Help Organize Your Plot and the Story You Want to Tell.

Each week has 3 lectures about 7-8 minutes long and ends with a peer-graded assignment (assignment not available for audit only option).

Keep in mind that the most common complaint for this course is that it’s peer-graded. You will eventually get insightful feedback for your assignments. What I do recommend though is reviewing more than 3 assignments, this way you can learn from others in the course. Generally speaking, this is a common issue for most online writing courses, the instructors will rarely give their feedback in your assignment. However, this course has done an amazing job in putting together those assignments, they are well-thought and with minimum effort, learners can give great feedback.

Nevertheless, it’s worth paying for the course to get to learn from other participants in the course. I got myself editing and adjusting my assignments very often after reading a few submissions from other learners.

3. Neil Gaiman Teaches The Art Of Storytelling (MasterClass)

My third pick is for Neil Gaiman Teaches The Art Of Storytelling by MasterClass.

As the name suggests, this is a masterclass with the world-renowned writer Neil Gaiman. Discover Neil’s philosophy on what drives a story—and open new windows to the stories inside you.

MasterClass is more on the pricey side, however, with their subscription you’ll have access to their entire library, including a few more courses on writing such as: Margaret Atwood teaches Creative Writing , Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers , Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing , James Patterson Teaches Writing . If you are considering subscribing, you might as well just enjoy those other courses.

By the end of this class, students will:

Gaiman provides one downloadable PDF for students which is a 94-page workbook that includes assignments and supplemental material.

Some of the topics covered in this course are: Truth in Fiction, Sources of Inspiration, Finding Your Voice, Developing the Story, Story Case Study: “The Graveyard Book”, Short Fiction Case Study: “March Tale”, Dialogue and Character, Charter Case Study: “October Tale”, Worldbuilding, Humor, Genre, Comics, Dealing with Writer’s Block, and Editing.

4. COMPLETE Creative Writing – All Genres – THE FULL COURSE! (Udemy)

My fourth pick is for COMPLETE Creative Writing – All Genres – THE FULL COURSE .

I love when passionate teachers like Trace Crawford put the effort into creating such a comprehensive curriculum. This is a 12-hour long course with 145 downloadable resources.

In this course you will learn “how to write engaging Fiction, Poetry, Drama, & Creative Non-Fiction and become the successful writer you want to be.”

This is supposed to be a practical creative writing course, where you’ll have assignments to be reviewed by the instructor. Although, the instructor may take a while to answer all the questions and assignments.

Each lesson is broken down into multiple video lectures that include:

While review quizzes (37 in total) over major concepts are provided along the way, the true measure of progress will be in the authentic writing assignments that you will complete as you progress toward your goal of becoming a successful and confident writer!

5. Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Skillshare Original)

My fifth pick is for Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge with Emily Gould.

I couldn’t help myself by adding this course/challenge to the ranking. Emily Gould is the sweetest instructor one could ask for. Her way of inviting you to participate in the challenge is impossible to deny, which is the best thing to overcome writer’s block. And that’s exactly what she is proposing to us. In this 10-day creative writing challenge, filled with inspiring examples, observation prompts, and clever revision tricks, it’s perfect for writers and enthusiasts eager to rekindle creativity in a personal and artful way.

This course is the shortest one in this list since it’s more about the challenge of keeping your journal, so if you decide to subscribe to skillshare you can also enjoy all their library of courses. Besides the other two recommended courses in this list, you can check this other skillshare courses worth taking: Writing Suspense: How to Write Stories That Thrill in Any Genre and The Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Steps to a Successful Writing Habit

Commit to writing 10 minutes a day for 10 days (starting with “Today I noticed…”) and, on the final day, revise one entry into a finished piece.

This class is a 10-day challenge that’s designed to unlock your creativity by getting you to notice new details about your world.

6. Short Story Writing: Create Fiction from Personal Experience (Domestika)

My sixth pick is for Short Story Writing: Create Fiction from Personal Experience with Shaun Levin.

Shaun’s approach to writing in this course is an unusual one. It draws from your personal experience to create a compelling fictional story. I’ve been to some workshops and this technique is really effective to write something with depth and soul. Every time we bring our own life to the story, it becomes alive, believable and relatable. In a way, all fictional stories are based on the author’s life. So, there is no surprise that this is a good starting point.

This course will help you with techniques and a series of practical exercises to start writing your scenes from a more philosophical point of view, creating compelling stories. Shaun Levin is a published author and creative writing teacher with over twenty years of experience, and in this course, he shows you how to delve into your imagination to find everything you’ll need to become a prolific writer, no matter where you are.

Some topics covered in this course are: Techniques to Write Everywhere, Techniques to Approach a Single Subject, Techniques for Sketching with Words, When You Get Stuck, How to Look at a Strawberry, The History of Your Feet, What’s More Important, the Facts or the Story?, Our Final Story, Editing and Rewriting, Share Your Work with the World, and Final Project.

You will watch the lectures and engage in practical activities, those can be shared in the community built-in in the course where you can receive feedback from other learners. By the end of the course, you will have a final project that will receive feedback from Shaun and other learners as well. Actually, if you want to check it out, in the course page on Domestika you can open the submitted projects and read the comments.

Besides the assignments, projects, and videos, there are 11 additional resources in 2 files.

7. Write Your Book: Start Strong and Get It Done (CreativeLive)

My seventh pick is for Write Your Book: Start Strong and Get It Done with Jennie Nash.

If you are struggling with getting started or are frequently stuck in your writing, this is the course for you. With tons of good advice and emotional support, you will learn techniques to make the process of writing less stressful. The provided workbook allows you to think in a methodical way by asking yourself the right questions to bring you back to your story and not get lost chasing your own tail.

Do you dream of writing a book but can’t seem to get started? Or maybe you’ve started but can’t quite get to “The End”? You’re not alone! Most people who set out to write a book don’t know how to begin or how to proceed through the development of their story. They quickly get overwhelmed with the sheer number of decisions to be made and often fall into frustration or even despair.

The truth is that creativity alone won’t get your book out of your head and onto the page. In this course, you’ll learn to capture your creative energy and master your craft with a step-by-step plan to build your story from the ground up. You’ll create a framework that can support your book-writing process the same way a foundation holds up a house.

What You’ll Learn

Author, teacher and book coach Jennie Nash will help you learn about your characters, your structure and your story so you can stop staring at a blank page wondering what to write next and instead move forward with confidence. You’ll get to know your story inside and out so that this time, you’ll finally finish your book—and finish strong.

In this class, you’ll learn how to:

How You’ll Learn

This course is more of a masterclass lecture-based course, so there are no assignments included in the course itself but good practices and a very useful workbook to carry with you in your writing journey.

Jennie Nash is the founder of Author Accelerator, a strategic book coaching service that offers the sustained editorial support writers need to complete their projects and make a powerful impact on their target audience. Check out this other course from Jennie Nash.

8. Writing: The Craft of Story (LinkedIn Learning)

In Writing: The Craft of Story , author Lisa Cron delves into the craft of writing a compelling story based on what the brain is wired to respond to in every story we hear in this course.

This course emphasizes the importance of creating a compelling story for your reader. It covers the basics of what is plot and what is story, and to write them to grab your reader’s attention with suspense, protagonist inner issues and dreams, being specific rather than generic, and cause and effect. The biggest advantage of taking this course is that once you are done with the quizzes you will have your certificate on your LinkedIn profile right away. You can also watch all the videos without subscribing to the course itself.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or revising a story for the umpteenth time, this course provides practical how-to advice and then illustrates it with before-and-after examples.

Learn how to write a first page, zero in on your story’s point, evoke empathy, discover a character’s obscured goals and inner issues, translate generics into specifics, write for suspense, make cause-and-effect connections, build momentum and tension, and deftly incorporate setups, payoffs, flashbacks, subplots, and foreshadowing.

It’s a series of well-produced lectures covering the basic building blocks of a story. By the end of each lesson there is a practical activity to check your understanding, and you can post questions in their built-in Q&A.

9. Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact (Skillshare Original)

Everyone has a story to tell. Join best-selling author Roxane Gay to find your story, craft your truth, and write to make a difference in Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact .

Roxane Gay is a writer, professor, and editor known for her honest, thoughtful writing on race, gender identity, culture, and more. She is the author of the New York Times best-selling essay collections Bad Feminist and Hunger, as well as the nationally best-selling Difficult Women. Her writing has appeared in McSweeney’s and Tin House, and she is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times.

How does such powerful writing come to be?

Packed with practical guidance, actionable tactics, and example essays, 8 video lessons will take you from first idea to a final, publication-ready work.

Some topics covered in this master class: Find a specific purpose for telling your story, Connect your work to larger conversations and timely themes, Conduct crucial research to support your work, Navigate personal memories to write your truth, Write and revise your final work, and Submit your work for publication.

Plus, the class includes a downloadable worksheet to support your ongoing creative nonfiction writing practice, as well as links to additional resources.

This one-hour masterclass is an insightful, inspiring look at how to transform your story into a powerful personal essay. Learn how to craft your personal voice with wider context—and write to connect with the people you want to reach.

By sharing her meditative, thoughtful approach to the craft of writing, Roxane invites you to take yourself seriously as a writer, empowering you to share your passion, take a stand, and make an impact on the world around you.

You can share your final project with other learners and receive feedback from your peers. Even though Roxane doesn’t give learners feedback directly, you can receive insights from other instructors on the platform.

If you enjoy creative nonfiction writing, you might consider this course that’s also on Skillshare: Creative Nonfiction: Write Truth with Style (Skillshare Original) by Susan Orlean

10. Start Writing Fiction (The Open University)

In Start Writing Fiction , established writers as Louis de Bernières, Patricia Duncker, Alex Garland, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tim Pears, Michèle Roberts and Monique Roffey – will talk about how they started writing. Your instructor is Derek Neale, a novelist and short story writer.

You’ll consider the rituals of writing and keeping a journal; learn how to develop your ideas; reflect on your own writing and editing; hear writers talk about their approach to research; and start turning events into plot.

Some topics covered in this course are: Creation of characters in fiction, Different sources for characters in stories, Ways of presenting characters in stories, Reading as a writer, Writing practice, including creativity, research, observation and editing, Peer reviewing, workshops and the importance of feedback.

You’ll also have the opportunity to review the work of fellow writers and receive comments on your own, learning to read as a writer and respond to feedback.

This course is intended for those with an interest in starting to write fiction or improving their fiction writing, and does not require any previous experience of studying this subject.

Derek Neale’s latest novel is The Book of Guardians – Derek has recorded many interviews with novelists, playwrights and biographers about their approach to writing.

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Creative Writing Classes: 13 Online Courses for Writers

These days, there’s no shortage of ways to learn from the comfort of your own home, and writing is no exception. Creative writing classes abound on the internet, but in such a crowded market, it's difficult to know which are best suited to your skill level, interests, and learning preferences.

Below, we’ve gathered thirteen of our favorite online creative writing classes. These courses range quite a bit in price, time commitment, and writing topics, so there’s bound to be something that will fit your needs and lifestyle.

Reedsy Learning

💲 Cost: Free 👨‍🏫 Type: Email lessons

If you’re struggling to find time for creative writing classes, Reedsy Learning is for you. These bite-sized lessons are emailed to you once a day for ten days and can be read in five minutes or less. But don’t let their compact size fool you — each lesson is packed with practical tips, links to additional resources, and enough exercises to keep your skills sharp. There are also courses on editing , marketing , and publishing for when you’re ready to take your creative writing to the next level.

Gotham Writers’ Workshop

💲 Cost: $165 - $409 (plus registration fees) 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, live Zoom classes, assignments, critique

The largest adult-education writing school in the US, Gotham Writers has been helping budding authors hone their skills since the 1990s. Based in New York City, they offer in-person classes as well as a variety of online options for students all over the globe. With self-paced courses, live Zoom lectures, write-ins, and several free events per term, Gotham Writers emulates the university feel wherever possible.

Note: Gotham Writers' Workshop has a free course on Novel Revision on Reedsy Learning.

💲 Cost: $0 - $109 👨‍🏫 Type: Lectures (videos, slides, and text)

Founded in 2010, Udemy is a massive online open course (MOOC) platform, created to provide an alternative to in-person, university learning. Their primary audience is made up of professionals and students — some of their courses even offer credit toward technical certifications. Their creative writing courses are broad and geared mainly toward beginners, through there are some intermediate courses that get into specific niches.

💲 Cost: $0 - $998 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, online assignments

Another MOOC, edX was started as a collaboration between Harvard and MIT, but these days boasts classes from a wide variety of respected universities. Like Udemy, some of their courses also offer college credits. edX’s courses are weekly, consisting of short videos, interactive learning exercises, and online discussion groups. Their writing courses cover everything from novels to stand-up comedy to digital content. There are also related courses in journalism, composition, and grammar, among other specializations.

💲 Cost: Free (Creative Writing Specialization) 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, online assignments

One last MOOC for our list, this time founded by several Computer Science professors from Stanford University. But don’t let its history fool you — Coursera offers humanities classes as much as science and technology. In addition to general courses, Coursera also offers specializations, a series of courses that work together much like what you’d find in a university.

Masterclass

💲 Cost: $180/year 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, workbooks

If learning from household-name celebrities sounds like an exciting way to develop your skills, Masterclass is perfect for you. Each Masterclass course is taught by renowned professionals — which, for writers, means learning from the likes of Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, R.L. Stine, Neil Gaiman, and many more. Work through the lectures at your own pace. Detailed workbooks will give you plenty to do, both during and after the course.

Sign up for our FREE point of view writing course

Learn to write in first, third, and even second-person point of view with our free 10-day course. Get started now.

💲 Cost: $19.99/month when billed monthly, or $99/year when billed annually 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, worksheets, assigned projects

While Skillshare offers some celebrity-hosted courses (want to learn how to write a personal essay from Roxane Gay?), the bulk of their classes are led by enthusiastic experts ready to share their knowledge with a hungry audience. In addition to the videos, Skillshare courses provide students with a course-long assignment to complete, which then gets reviewed and discussed with the course instructor.

Writer’s Digest University

💲 Cost: $49.99 - $799.99 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, assignments, critique, discussion group

Run by Writer’s Digest, these new ‘University’ courses are aimed at students with a wide range of skill levels and career goals. Whether you just want to practice your artistic skills in poetry or novels , or you’re looking to get creative with blogging, you can browse courses based on the form of writing, your goals as a writer, or the elements of writing you’re aiming to improve. Each course gives you access to a discussion group as well as a private “journal” where you can write notes visible only to you and your instructor.

LitReactor Online Writing Workshops

💲 Cost: $99 - $399 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, assignments, critique

Unlike most of the other courses on our list, LitReactor’s ever-changing roster of online classes only runs for a few weeks at a time— so if there’s one you want to participate in, make sure you sign up while you can. Still, if you can make their schedule work for you, these highly interactive courses could provide you with exactly the boost you need to get into a solid writing habit.

The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers

💲 Cost: $9 - $29 👨‍🏫 Type: Lectures (written and video), exercises

Run by Nebula-award-winning author and two-term former president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) Cat Rambo, these courses are a treasure trove of highly targeted but widely useful creative writing topics. Need to find time to write in the cracks of your life? There's a course for that. Want to get your hands on nuanced breakdowns of revising, or the finer points of literary prose? You're in the right place. Are you brimming with genre-specific questions on fairy tale retellings or steampunk worldbuilding? Rambo's got you covered.

Creative Writing Classes | The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers

The Creative Penn Courses

💲 Cost: $69 - $297 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures, downloadable slides, discussion group

While Joanna Penn is perhaps best known for her advice on selling and marketing your work, she also offers creative writing courses on nonfiction, co-writing books, and crafting novels. Each course is self-paced, and full of Penn’s trademark no-nonsense advice and inspiring, uplifting attitude.

Brandon Sanderon’s lecture series

💲 Cost: Free 👨‍🏫 Type: Video lectures

If you’ve ever dreamt of sitting in on a college-level course taught by a prolific, bestselling author, look no further. This lecture series is literally just a recording of Brandon Sanderson’s creative writing course that he teaches at BYU. Widely regarded as a must-watch video series for writers of science fiction and fantasy, Sanderson covers topics ranging from weaving intricate plots and fleshing out a believable fantasy world to writing fantastical short stories. Since it’s available for free on YouTube, many genre writers find themselves revisiting it over and over again.

Reedsy Live

Lastly, we have our very own Reedsy Live: a series of webinars presented by a wide range of expert editors across many different genres. These video replays are the perfect way to sharpen your skill in a fun, upbeat environment. Whether you’re looking to write for a middle grade audience , want to learn how to create spine-chilling suspense , or simply want help refining your author “voice,” our editors will walk you through the process with wisdom and experience. (Like what one of them has to say? You can even hire them to edit your work to perfection!) Reedsy Live also covers how to take your creative writing project all the way to publication — and beyond.

With this wealth of resources at your fingertips, there really is no reason not to get out there and pursue your creative writing dreams. We can’t wait to see your work on the shelves someday!

And that's it! I hoe you

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Free Course: How to Write a Novel

Enroll in this free 10-day course to learn the fundamentals of novel-craft.

Adult Writing Workshops

Adult Writing Workshops cover a variety of topics, from memoir to character development to editing to publishing. They are designed for adults of all levels of writing experience.

Interested in scheduling an adult workshop at your school, library, nonprofit, business, etc.? Click here .

Beating Writer's Block (Hybrid)

Instructor: Andrea Taylor

You may choose to attend this workshop either in-person at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215) or virtually on Zoom.

Writing as Personal Transformation: Session One (Hybrid)

Monday, March 13, 2023

Creativity isn’t just “making something new.” It is transformation. In this two-session class, we will use images, metaphors, and the written word to explore deeper understandings of ourselves and the challenges we have faced. Through prose and/or poetry, we will memorialize our searches and transformations, thus enriching our perspectives on writing and life.

You may register for one or both sessions , although participation in both is strongly encouraged to get the most out of this workshop.

Instructor: Nicole Gnezda, Ph.D.

Personal as Prelude: Weaving Threads of Memory and History (Hybrid)

Monday, March 20, 2023

Using practical and thought-provoking plot templates, begin or continue a work of crafted nonfiction, constructing memoir from memory and connecting to personal and historic events or timelines. Play with ideas for the prologue or introduction for your work of heart. Use practical and thought-provoking plot techniques to begin or continue a work of crafted nonfiction or memoir connecting memory to personal and historic events or timelines. Cellphones, laptops, and other tech welcomed as research tools in this session.

Instructor: Lyn Ford

Writing as Personal Transformation: Session Two (Hybrid)

Write What Scares You: A Multigenre Workshop for Writing About Difficult Topics (Hybrid)

Monday, March 27, 2023

This workshop is about breaking creative blocks that can arrive when exploring tough subjects on the page. We'll begin with a short talk on emotional resonance and how to decide what, how, and when to share. There will be a short reading, discussion, and two prompts (come prepared to write!). This will be a safe and brave space to capture stories you may have been avoiding. It will offer writers an opportunity to deepen the emotional resonance of any genre, discuss holistic ways to tap the emotional truth that fuels our best writing, and go home with new tools for exploring the work that we've been avoiding.

Instructor: Jen Knox

Master Class: Theater Improv for Writers (Hybrid)

Spark your creativity and improve your manuscripts by playing with theater improvisation techniques! Join equity actress Elaine Miracle and creative writer Melissa Weber in a theater improvisation class. Participants will learn about relaxation, observation, and character development through improvisation exercises and scene practice. We’ll work on dialogue, world-building, and the infamous “show don’t tell” advice we’ve heard and may struggle to achieve. Plan to learn, have fun, and maybe stretch outside your comfort zone.

Instructors: Melissa Weber and Elaine Miracle

Novel Writing Workshop (Hybrid)

Monday, April 3, 2023

This workshop is for those who either wish to or have started writing a novel. We will go over how to hook a reader with an opening, how to keep going through the murky middle, and ideas for sticking the ending. We will touch on the basics: character, plot, structure, and how to avoid common pitfalls. Come with your current or potential novel ideas so that you can complete a few writing exercises with your story in mind. Open to any genre!

Food Memories and Memoir (Hybrid)

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Who doesn’t have a food memory? The Thanksgiving turkey that went awry…a spicy meal that recalls the end of a relationship…the cheesy carb comfort go-to that shakes the blues. The food memoir—or essay—can be a juicy kitchen drama or a nostalgic stir of memory. In this workshop, we’ll have fun with food, using writing exercises and prompts to get that memorable scene on the page. We’ll read excerpts from various writers and from chefs whose food stories seduce, tantalize and comfort. We’ll take a recipe—whether it’s from a family cookbook or in your head—and start to make a story, scene or essay from it. Join this mac ‘n cheese lover for some tips to get you started!

Instructor: Lisa Lopez Snyder

Tips and Techniques for Getting Started (Hybrid)

Monday, April 17, 2023

Do you have untold stories churning in your mind, but don’t know where to start? Are you drawn to the idea of writing, but just need to start somewhere? Or are you stuck, and just need some ideas to help keep you going? Wherever you are in the writing universe, “Getting Started” will help you with tips and techniques for getting your pen to the page and for keeping you writing. In this workshop, we’ll have fun exploring writing in several genres to help us explore the creative process. We’ll use writing prompts for poetry, memoir and fiction to guide our process. We’ll read excerpts from various writers. But most of all, we’ll let go and play and see what happens. By session’s end, you’ll have some pieces to work with and ideas on how to keep going.

From the Other Side of Subs (Hybrid)

Thursday, April 20, 2023

So you've written a short piece, but how do you get it published? Instructor Andrea Taylor has tips and tricks galore! Learn the behind the scenes of literary journal submissions. We'll go over how to know which journals or magazines are right for you and best practices and tips for making your submissions shine. We'll also discuss some reasons pieces get rejected and bust some submission myths.

Master Class: Humor 101 with NYT-Bestselling Author and Thurber Prize Finalist Laurie Notaro (Hybrid)

Join 9th Thurber Prize for American Humor finalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author Laurie Notaro for an epic master class on humor!

In Laurie Notaro’s words, “It’s taken 30 years of writing humor for me to understand some aspects of it—what does pacing and rhythm, word choice and voice have to do with it? And what, exactly, is humor? What makes one thing funny while something almost identical misses the mark?”

In this class, Laurie will walk you through methods that took her decades to figure out. Drawing on her experience as a reporter, non-fiction, and fiction writer, she will teach you how to build story structure, fit the pieces of a story together, and find hints for a great ending. Using real writing examples, you’ll dissect the elements to see what works best in a humorous work as well as in “straight writing,” and determine what you need to develop a full piece. Laurie will also show you how to retain your humor during the editing and publishing process when working with editors and others who aren’t as funny as you are (it happens!).

Instructor: Laurie Notaro

Flash Creative Nonfiction Generator (Virtual Only)

We will read and write tiny personal essays (1,000 words or less), learning to create lasting depth and impact in few words with the help of craft approaches, flash nonfiction examples, and generative exercises that will leave participants with a bunch of fresh ideas and ways into their own mini-essays. We will read and discuss essays by Brenda Miller, Jaquira Diaz, Ira Sukrungruang, Daisy Hernandez, and more. At the end of class, Lizzie will provide additional readings and exercises for participants to try on their own.

Instructor: Lizzie Lawson

This workshop is offered virtually on Zoom.

Master Class: Comedy Toolbox and Punch Up Workshop with NYT-Bestselling Author, Actress, and 2x Thurber Prize Honoree Annabelle Gurwitch (Hybrid)

New York Times best-selling author, two-time Thurber Prize honoree, and humorist Annabelle Gurwitch will lead a creative brainstorming session with writers on works in progress and she'll share her comedy toolbox and process of cultivating humor in even the most serious subjects. You’ll learn a process you can apply each time you sit down to write. This workshop combines (short) lectures, discussion of craft, and brainstorming with Annabelle. Participants are welcome to attend without submitting work, but for those who would like Annabelle to read and suggest comedic opportunities in on-going work, you may email a 500-word piece or excerpt from a longer work at least one week prior to the workshop.

Instructor: Annabelle Gurwitch

Experimental Writing Techniques to Open Secret Doors (Hybrid)

Monday, May 8, 2023

You've likely heard Frost's writing axiom—no surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader. Letting the unexpected into your writing is essential for creating something that feels fresh and original to readers. But how? In this two hour class you'll get an overview of the history of contemporary experimental writing from the modernists through dada and up into hypertext and electronic experimentation. We'll read some examples to inspire us, and then we'll get to work with a variety of guided prompts and chance-based techniques to unlock new avenues in our writing. You'll leave the class with a repertoire of new techniques that you can carry forward and employ any time you could use a little extra inspiration. Appropriate for creative writers in all genres and skill levels.

Instructor: Kamal Kimball

Story Openings: Beyond “Once Upon a Time” (Virtual Only)

Monday, February 27, 2023

What’s the best way to start a story—dialogue, setting, a knock-down argument? Bring a short story or novel opening you’re having trouble with or would like to re-envision…and get ready to revamp! We’ll look at various story opening styles across genres to give you ideas before you tackle your own work. You’ll walk away with at least one new version of your story opening and a fresh perspective.

Instructor: Tina Tocco

Thurber House opened its doors to the public in 1984. Since then, we have become a gathering place for readers, writers, and James Thurber enthusiasts of all ages.

Two writing students laugh about the comics they've created in class.

BA Writing & Literature

Cultivate your creative writing potential and literary analysis skills in an inspiring, intensive studio environment.

The living art of writing and literature

Our program emphasizes the historical knowledge of literature, interdisciplinary exploration, and critical inquiry to help you create original work. Situated in one of the best art and design schools in the country, creativity and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. Students learn to develop their individual voices through workshops in prose, poetry, drama, screenwriting, graphic novels, improvisation, and more. They incorporate visual art into their own writing as they work on a thesis manuscript.

BA writing student award winners pose with their book cover art.

Immersed in the Bay Area’s rich literary history

The Bay Area has long been home to exciting literary communities, from the San Francisco Renaissance and Beat poetry movement to New Narrative and Slam/Spoken Word. During any given week, there are dozens of reading series students can attend. It’s this vibrant literary scene, combined with our art and design backdrop, that makes our Writing and Literature program so unique.

Student work

Spirit Parts (1 of 2)

Carina Espudo

Writing & Literature

Class of 2021

Spirit Parts (2 of 2)

Realm of the Hidden Doors (1 of 4)

Zoe Thompson-Brooks

Realm of the Hidden Doors (2 of 4)

Realm of the Hidden Doors (3 of 4)

Realm of the Hidden Doors (4 of 4)

In Search of Wunjo (1 of 4)

Joy Melançon

In Search of Wunjo (2 of 4)

In Search of Wunjo (3 of 4)

In Search of Wunjo (4 of 4)

Writing students having fun in a comics workshop

Spring 2018 Humble Pie staff

Zoey Gassner reading her work at Humble Pie

Chess McWilliams at HearSay reading series (9 Oct. 2018)

Chess McWilliams

MFA Writing student reading her work

Writing Room entrance at the 2019 Commencement Exhibition

Ceramics paired w with writing (cylinders)

Fish ceramics paired with writing

Senior reading in A2 Cafe, Oakland

Rebecca Henry

Class of 2018

Fall 2017 Humble Pie staff in the classroom

Poet Joseph Lease reading from "The Body Ghost" during the Fall 2018 HearSay reading series (9 Oct. 2018)

Student reading

Studios & Shops

Work within many modes and genres.

A creative writing degree is an investment in your development as a writer and reader. You’ll have the opportunity to practice image-making, meter, and other poetic gestures; character development and fiction forms; lyric essays, literary journalism, travel writing, hybrid narratives, and more.

Your workshop submissions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction will be informed by close readings and analyses of writing that spans movements. We read the Romantics, Gothic literature, non-Western traditions, graphic novels—we read everything. Courses focused on literary writing by a single author, such as Walt Whitman or Octavia Butler, allow us to dive deeper into diverse perspectives and critical theory.

Our curriculum also includes four open electives, giving you the freedom to explore different disciplines such as community arts, printmaking, painting and drawing, and illustration.

Take a tour of our Writing & Literature Classrooms

Connect with published writers and literary organizations

Our students learn what it’s like to live and work as a writer through internships with Bay Area literary organizations. Within our classrooms and workshops, guest lecturers and faculty—all widely published—guide students through the fundamental steps for publication.

Your writing life at CCA

Spaces to inspire your creative writing

A student works on a drawing in the 2D Drawing Studio.

Experiment with charcoal, ink, and paint in the Painting & Drawing Studios

A person holds a large flat box of ink-covered wooden letters.

The Book Arts workspace at the San Francisco Center for the Book features lithography presses, bookbinding tools, and more

San Francisco Media Center staff and equipment.

Check out DSLR cameras, lighting kits, tablets, and other photo equipment from the Media Center

Work with small presses and arts education institutions

Our faculty are accomplished scholars, prose writers, poets, nonfiction writers, and playwrights. They publish New York Times best-sellers, mount exhibitions, and even write libretti for operas. Students benefit from their diverse practices during small workshops and one-on-one sessions.

Chair Anne Shea is a researcher and widely published writer. Her teaching and research expertise include twentieth century and twenty-first century North American literature, as well as English composition. Shea’s essays have been published by scholarly and peer-reviewed journals, such as MELUS , Contemporary Literature , and Women’s Studies . Her writing on contemporary art has appeared in X-TRA Contemporary Art Quarterly and n.paradox: international feminist art journal . Currently, Shea’s working on a book about documentary poetry and neoliberal violence.

Eric Olson, Associate Chair of Writing and Literature

Associate Chair Eric Olson is a fiction writer who teaches courses in literature, creative writing, academic writing, and literary theory. He is the author of The Procession of Mollusks , a novel published in 2009 by Astrophil Press. Olson is the former associate editor for Conjunctions , an online literary journal that champions experimental writing.

Faculty work

The Bohemians

Jasmin Darznik

Writing, Writing & Literature

La Puerta del Circulo Polar Artico

Juvenal Acosta

A World of Calm (1 of 2)

Faith Adiele

A World of Calm (2 of 2)

How Proust Ruined My Life

Gloria Frym

Old Snow, White Sun

Caroline Goodwin

Faculty stories

We think with our hands

Develop your writing into works of art.

Writing and Literature at CCA is a combination of forms workshops, open electives, and topical courses on theory, visual arts, and historical and modern authors and techniques. The program is designed to help you develop your writing into publishable works of art through individualized attention and access to one of the country’s most dynamic literary communities. View sample courses .

Investigate ideas through every dimension

Before diving into their chosen major, every undergraduate participates in the First Year Experience. Students explore a wide range of materials and tools over the course of two semesters. Faculty from different disciplines guide studio projects, group critiques, and theoretical discussions, setting students up for success throughout their major coursework.

Core Studio

Writing & literature major requirements, additional studio requirements, humanities & sciences requirements.

Total 120.0 units

Your future as a writer and artist

Our students emerge from the Writing and Literature program with highly transferable skills in critical thinking and oral and written communication. Alumni secure positions at newspapers, literary nonprofits, small-press publishers, and advertising agencies. Many have gone on to pursue graduate degrees in creative writing, education, law, and library science.

Potential career paths

Learn about career development

News & Events

What’s happening in the writing community.

163A5361_TracyKSmith_Writer Series - The biggest names in art and criticism

Meet the biggest names in literature

Portrait of Kim Shuck, Poet Laureate of San Francisco, CA and CCA diversity studies faculty.

How to Apply

Learn the craft of writing in a supportive community.

Our students are excited to study various styles and formal techniques with acclaimed writers. They want to stretch their creative writing skills in intimate workshops and establish industry connections at prominent presses and journals. Inspired by CCA’s resources for fine arts and design, students are comfortable going beyond the written page to make compelling work. As thoughtful readers, collaborators, and community members, they’re prepared to flourish in many professional spheres that require critical thinking and literary inventiveness.

Learn about undergraduate admissions

Find your creative community at CCA

Related programs

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Freelance & Entrepreneurship

Leadership & Management

Productivity

Online Classes

Find what fascinates you as you explore these online classes.

Undergraduate core courses are the foundation of BFA studies at CalArts, providing a strong general education and opportunities to deepen every student's artistic practice.

Explore is your first stop if you are considering applying to CalArts. Here you can find information about your program(s) of interest, events the Institute is hosting or attending, a virtual campus map, and much more. Your journey to CalArts starts here.

CalArts is located in Santa Clarita, Calif., 30 miles north of Los Angeles. Explore the local area and community.

Offering innovative continuing education arts courses designed to meet the needs of both emerging artists and lifelong learners.

Request Info

School of Theater, Costume Design Presentation, A class with a female teacher giving critique on costume work displayed on a monitor, female student is smiling.

California Institute of the Arts is renowned internationally as a game-changer in the education of professional artists. The transformative cultural impact of our alumni shows why: We bring out visionary creative talent unlike any other university, school or conservatory. An all-inclusive community for a diversity of authentic voices, CalArts today offers more than 70 comprehensive degree programs in the visual, performing, media and literary arts.

Academic Programs

CalArts Among 'The Hollywood Reporter's' Top 10 Schools for Costume Design

CalArts is joined by other noted programs at USC, UCLA, NYU, and SCAD in 'The Hollywood Reporter's' annual roundup.

CalArts Center for New Performance Presents the World Premiere of 'Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side'

Obie Award-winning playwright Adrienne Kennedy’s neo-noir tale of sibling rivalry runs Thursday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 25 at REDCAT.

CalArtian Animators Nominated for 95th Oscars

Actors Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams unveiled the nominees for the 95th annual Academy Awards. | Photo: Al Seib / ©A.M.P.A.S.

CalArts Alums Named 2023 United States Artists Fellows

United States Artists (USA)—a Chicago-based national arts funding organization—announced its 2023 Fellows on Tuesday from 10 creative disciplines.

CalArtians Among the Nominees, Honorees for 50th Annie Awards

The International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood) announced the nominees and honorees for the 50th annual Annie Awards on Tuesday, Jan. 24. | Photo: Courtesy of ASIFA.

CalArts Animation Retains #1 Ranking by Animation Career Review

For the third year in a row, CalArts’ animation programs have collectively earned the top honors from Animation Career Review.

Here's to a Joyous 2023!

With gratitude for your friendship in our first 50 years, and wishing you a joyous and generative 2023.

CalArtians Win at Inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards

This weekend, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) honored the best in family-friendly television.

CalArts Ranks #5 in TheWrap’s Best Film Schools of 2022

California Institute of the Arts earns the number five spot in this year’s top 50 film schools in the US,...

Louise Sandhaus Named Recipient of 2022 AIGA Medal

School of Art faculty Louise Sandhaus (Art BFA 93, MFA 94) has been named one of three 2022 AIGA Medalists,...

The Pool #11: The Comeback Issue Now Online

The latest issue of The Pool, CalArts’ twice-yearly alumnx/alumni magazine, is now online with features and news items about the CalArts community.

Raven Chacon Wins 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Music

On May 9, Diné artist, composer, and CalArts alum Raven Chacon (Music MFA 04) was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in music.

Calendar of Events

Carolyn chen, 'lust for life': kate bolonnikova's mfa performer-composer recital, luka's mfa mid-residence recital.

Alumni Stories

Hilary greenbaum.

Three years after finishing my BFA at Carnegie Mellon I decided to change the trajectory of my career. I wanted to do different types of work and learn to incorporate a personal voice into what I was making. When I looked into the MFA Graphic Design Program at CalArts, I felt inspired by the...

Carmina Escobar

There’s a great interest in the voice right now—throughout the culture—in the arts, in music and philosophy. It’s all about extending one’s own corporeality. My sound art springs from my concept of the voice, which is my primordial instrument. I relate to the world...

Miwa Matreyek

Excerpts from Miwa Matreyek's alumni story video. When I started CalArts I thought I was just going to make a bunch of short films and graduate and work in the animation industry. I really give credit to CalArts for being this incubator of creativity that led me onto a...

Ann Telnaes

As an artist, you realize that everything you’ve learned in your whole art life will come back at some point; it has for me. It’s been amazing how my design training at CalArts has helped me in editorial cartooning for print.

Vashti Harrison

My graduate thesis film was about folklore and ghost stories as told through the voices of members of my mother’s family in Trinidad. There’s an element of narrative in my work, but it’s not purely narrative; there are no scripts or actors. It’s most easily referred to as...

I came out of my undergrad at Harvard knowing that, if nothing else, I could stay in the studio all night, work myself into a corner, and throw myself at building something. What was great about CalArts is that it broke all those habits and proved to me that it wasn’t just the labor that...

Amarnath Ravva

Since 2005, I’ve been part of a shared group space called Betalevel. It’s not a collective—it’s more of a venue for social experimentation and hands on culture that we use for readings and other events. Most of our current seven members are grads from the CalArts Writing...

Jenny Foldenauer

As a little girl I wanted to be a painter, but soon realized that textiles and clothing were my medium. What I love about costume design–which is different from fashion–is that I am creating characters, parts of new worlds imagined by a writers, directors, set, lighting and sound...

John Schwerbel

When I entered CalArts I thought I was only interested in performing, but two amazing teachers and mentors, David Roitstein and Lauren Pratt, widened my scope of possibilities. I learned concert production from Lauren, who hired me to produce the Charlie Haden concert at REDCAT, as well as the...

Andreas Levisianos

As far as I know this is the only composer-performer doctorate program that exists. It’s not a typical dual degree; instead it combines the two notions. As a composer, pianist and a conductor, I was presented with the opportunity to exercise all, merging the ideas of analysis, synthesis...

Before I came to CalArts I studied media and interactive design in Korea. I was also working as a motion graphic designer. Technology is rapidly changing and I wasn’t sure how this accelerated moment was affecting my identity as an artist. When I decided it was time to pursue...

Daniel Charon

By the time I enrolled at CalArts, I had performed for 15 years, and was focused on my choreography and teaching. CalArts gave me the time, space and support—with my mentors, faculty and my peers—pushing me forward saying, "Yes, you are capable and ready to do other things. Yes,...

Catherine Rockhold

I started working with photography when I was 12 or 13. I used photography and Photoshop as a way to create scenes and stories with found images, working with landscapes, animals, and beautiful colors. After visiting CalArts, it was initially the community that attracted me. I majored in...

Cristina Fernandez

I think there is a higher level of expectation for an actor-artist at CalArts than at other places. You’re an active participant in making a piece of art. When I started, I didn’t think I had that capacity as an actor to make my own work; I didn’t understand the language....

My mother was a pianist and my first piano teacher. I sang as a child, took a break right around adolescence when my voice dropped, and I began singing again in rock bands when I was 15 or 16. After some classical training I realized how much I enjoyed singing classical music, and at CalArts,...

C.O. Thomas

Suzan-Lori Parks introduced me to CalArts while I was working for The Public Theater in New York. I wanted the opportunity to expand my horizons because by the time I visited CalArts, I knew how to do small theater. Round three-fourth thrusts, proscenium arch—that’s how you present...

Kirsten Lepore

Before coming in to CalArts, I’d been freelancing for clients such as Google, Whole Foods, Facebook, Toyota and Nestlé, but I wanted to get more serious about directing—about becoming the one in charge. I looked at the CalArts website and found the student work incredibly...

When I came to CalArts I had limiting preconceptions about how to achieve the kinds of dramatic effects I wanted in my films. The faculty helped by pointing out precisely where I had missed opportunities in editing a scene, or possible moves for the characters that I hadn’t...

Leila Navon

Like most music students, my background was in classical music. Before coming to CalArts I thought I wanted to do studio recordings, DJ-ing and scratching with vinyl records. But when I got here, I realized that the art world is much larger than I had imagined. In my second year I attended the...

Anne-Marie Kinney

The two most important things about the Writing Program for me were the mentorship—being pushed by, and being championed by, faculty—both while I was at CalArts and after I graduated. Also, the peer group with which I’m still in contact. We had daily workshops; a handful of...

Dan Bustillo

When I first looked into the Art & Technology program at CalArts, I was especially excited to see that not all of the work students in the program were making could be thought of as explicitly having to do with technology. From pneumatic sculptures, to operatic performances, to videos about...

Daron Nefcy

I was pitching ideas for shows while I was still a student at CalArts. My first job out was on Warner Bros.’ MAD. It ran on Cartoon Network for many seasons and was cool because I got to make my own mini films. Then, I worked at Nickelodeon as a storyboard revisionist...

Stephanie Moorehouse

I was inspired to play the violin at age 6 after watching a live performance in Branson, Missouri. My mom encouraged me to pursue it and after my first lesson I knew that the violin was going to be my passion. As I studied the violin, I began to branch out from my classical training and started...

Alan S. Tofighi

Alan S. Tofighi is an Interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in Southern California. Utilizing a background in research, performance, sound, video, emergent & low tech; Tofighi’s work deals with analyses of the dispersion, obfuscation, and (de)formation of information/history to...

Crystaldawn Bell

It was such a great feeling to be a greenhorn at CalArts, knowing that I had the faculty behind me—and the whole student body, too, trying to help me understand who I was as an artist. The faculty nurtured the type of dancer that I was, and that I am. I’m 5’10” and very...

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Creative Writing Classes near me

Select from 1,151 Online Creative Writing Classes

I shall be teaching na introductory course in writing, which will touch the following three topics - 1. Creative Writing 2. Screenplay writing 3....

I am a students who recently passed out of The Cambridge School, having finished his A Levels under the Cambridge board. I am providing online tuition...

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Creative writing involves language a total command over the language whether it’s English or Hindi or any other. For this I have to simultaneously...

I have been composing works in both Hindi and English since my childhood and also have been teaching Creative Writing since 14 years now, though not...

Teaching writing skills is always a customized one for it demands success based on the needs of the learner. For all these years, the sessions are...

I am a lawyer with additional degrees in BA and MA English. I have over 13 years' work experience in corporate, training and teaching. I am on my...

The skills and technicalities to achieve a good writing is not a thing to mug up. It needs practice and guidance. I am sure I can provide you that...

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I'm working as a Senior Staff Writer with The Better India. Former Sub-Editor at The Logical Indian and Efforts For Good. I'm a passionate storyteller...

My experience spans more than 30 years in the academic field. Worked overseas as well as in India in International schools of reputation. Conduct...

I have 7 years of experience in the field of Special Education as Special Education Teacher at The Aditya Birla Integrated School and JBCN Pan Academy...

I am a qualified Chartered Accountant and a commerce Graduate from Delhi University. My flair for writing turned me into an Author as well( Published). I...

I am an IELTS certified trainer carrying more than 12 years of core tutoring experience in IELTS {GT / ACD} and ESL {English as Second Language}....

I am a first class Graduate from Christ University in Bangalore, my core competencies lie in the following subjects: 1. Graphic Design 2. Digital...

Hey there. I am experienced tutor for Academic English, Grammar and Creative writing. I am also a Trained Jolly Phonics Teacher. But apart from English...

I have been a Tutor since Class XI and have 5 years of professional experience as a Communication Skills Coach. With over 15 years of Corporate...

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Hello, I am an experienced freelance writer. I write digital content and am also working on my debut novel. I am a postgraduate from Xavier Institute...

Teaching has been my passion since I was in high school. I started teaching when I was in 11th and decided to continue teaching in college. Through...

I have vast experience in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication along with Social and Volunteer Activities. Currently, I'm working as a professional...

Learn how to write short stories, essays, introductions. Enhance your deacreptive writing. I have experience of total 2 years in taking workshops...

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Reviews for top Creative Writing Classes

Review by Priyamvada

"I have attended Manjushree's creative writing and Script writing workshop. And it..."

Review by Aishwarya

"Perfect creative writing classes provided by him, and he is also a good personality..."

Review by Kushagra

"Saurin is the first creative writing teacher that I have worked with and I am so..."

Review by Sehaj

"This institute has taught me how to have creative thoughts and pen them in effective..."

Review by Abhinav

"I study in Katalyze, greater noida. Few months ago generally I asked my friends to..."

Review by Mehak

"Vaidehi is a highly creative person and her experience and love for creative writing..."

Review by Anuraag

"A nice and composed teacher, he helped me to learn a lot about writing, teaching..."

Review by Donnis

"As a Research Scholar i have been very impressed by her Creative writing and Spoken/Communicative..."

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Creative Writing Courses & Certificates
Develop professional creative writing skills in multiple genres of interest including poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, and more with our 21-unit Certificate in Creative Writing. This customizable program culminates in a capstone project where you'll make significant progress on a polished collection of work.
Best Creative Writing Courses & Certifications [2023]
Best Creative Writing Courses & Certifications [2023] | Coursera 478 results for "creative writing" Wesleyan University Creative Writing Skills you'll gain: Communication, Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Research and Design, Writing 4.6 (5.6k reviews) Beginner · Specialization · 3-6 Months Wesleyan University Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot
Creative Writing Courses
Creative Writing: Short Story Start writing short stories in this introductory course where you learn the key elements of powerful fiction and participate in a collaborative writers Format: Online Next Start Date: April 5, 2023 WRITING X 464.5E Deaf Writers Workshop
Online Courses: Creative Writing
The Online Creative Writing Program makes it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford's writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible.
Creative Writing groups
Creative Writing groups near you More local groups James River Writers 2578 Writers Agile Writers 1034 Writers Shut Up & Write!® Richmond 998 Writers Fountain Bookstore Events Meetup 937 Book Lovers Largest Creative Writing groups 1 Screenwriting Workshop with Award Winning Screenwriter 14,935 Screenwriters | New York, USA
San Jose, CA Creative Writing Workshops Events
Fri, Dec 23, 9:00 AM + 31 more events. Business Centre /Meeting Room • San Jose, CA, CA.
Writer's Studio
Through classes, events, and certificate programs, the Studio connects writers of all genres and ability levels in creative and effective writing. Creative writing courses include fiction, memoir, playwriting, poetry, short story, prose, novel-writing, and more. Introductory courses and advanced courses are labeled so that students can select ...
Word Up Kids
Schedule: Session 1. June 8 - June 29 Tuesdays 4.30-5.30pm Ages 7-12. June 9 - June 30 Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm Ages 13 and Up. Session 2. July 6 - July 27 Tuesdays 4.30-5.30pm Ages 7-12. July 7 - July 28 Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm Ages 13 and Up. Session 3. August 3 - August 24 Tuesdays Ages 7-12.
Creative Writing Classes for Adults
adult classes. We are honored to offer a range of creative writing classes from one-night sessions to intensive courses and writing workshops that meet on a weekly or monthly basis. Whatever your writing goals, we have a class for you. " "The Lafayette Writers' Studio classes I've taken have built not only my skills as a writer, they ...
Teen Creative Writing Classes
Teen Summer Writing Classes (In-Person or Online) Our summer weeklong classes take place Mondays through Fridays from 10:30-3:30pm in-person at our beautiful new Center for Creative Writing or online via Zoom, so you can join the YAWP summer experience however you want! Check out all of our Teen Summer Week-longs here.
Creative Writing Courses Near Me
Creative Writing Courses Near Me - The Writers College Creative writing courses in novel writing, short stories, poetry, memoir, children's books, scriptwriting and more. Tutored one-to-one by award-winning writers. Contact Us +44 (0) 1892 710877 Search Close Courses Journalism Courses Writing Articles for Websites and Blogs Course
Best creative writing classes near me in San Francisco, California
1. The Writers Grotto Classes. "I took the advanced fiction writing class with Jenny Bitner at The Grotto, a truly valuable..." more. 2. Writing Pad. "I'd recently begun thinking of taking a writing class to help get myself back into the practice, so..." more. 3. SF Creative Writing Institute.
The 10 Best Online Creative Writing Classes of 2023
The Novelry Writing for Children. Intelligent Award: Best for Children's Literature. The Novelry offers several programs for children's writers, ranging from the Classic Course Box Set, which allows you to work through 45 lessons at your own speed for $365, up to The Book in a Year Plan, which guides you from planning, creating, and writing a children's novel to publishing within a year ...
The 10 Best Writing Classes Near Me (with Free Estimates)
Top 10 writing instructors near you Thumbtack Lessons Writing Classes 1. Horizon Star Tutoring Co. Top Pro Exceptional 5.0 (13) Offers remote services 27 hires on Thumbtack Angela Tracy says, "My daughter was having a hard time in her Algebra class. I contacted Horizon tutoring and scheduled an appointment with Samiya." See more $55/hour
Creative Writing Classes Los Angeles, CA
Fiction and Nonfiction for All Levels. All levels. at Los Angeles Center of Photography - East Hollywood 5481 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90029. Join the multi-talented novelist, playwright, nonfiction writer and screenwriter, Sarah Schulman, in this creative writing class focusing on fiction and nonfiction for all levels.
10 Best Creative Writing Courses to Take in 2023
Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Skillshare Original) 1-2 hours. Commit to writing 10 minutes a day for 10 days. 6. Short Story Writing: Create Fiction from Personal Experience (Domestika) 2 hours. Write from your personal experience to create a compelling fictional story.
Creative Writing Classes: 13 Online Courses for Writers
The largest adult-education writing school in the US, Gotham Writers has been helping budding authors hone their skills since the 1990s. Based in New York City, they offer in-person classes as well as a variety of online options for students all over the globe.
Writing Classes Los Angeles, CA
All levels. at Training Connection - Downtown 915 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017. On this 1-day Business Writing class participants learn step-by-step how to write more persuasive and effective emails, reports and business proposals and create a more favorable impression of themselves and their organization.
Adult Writing Workshops
Write What Scares You: A Multigenre Workshop for Writing About Difficult Topics (Hybrid) Monday, March 27, 2023. 6:00 PM 8:00 PM. In-Person at Thurber Center or Virtual on Zoom (map) Google Calendar ICS. This workshop is about breaking creative blocks that can arrive when exploring tough subjects on the page.
Creative Writing & Literature BA
Associate Chair Eric Olson is a fiction writer who teaches courses in literature, creative writing, academic writing, and literary theory. He is the author of The Procession of Mollusks, a novel published in 2009 by Astrophil Press. Olson is the former associate editor for Conjunctions, an online literary journal that champions experimental ...
Classes Online
Anyone can take an online class, watch video lessons, create projects, and even teach a class themselves. New members: get your first 7 days of Skillshare Premium for free! Click here to redeem. Browse. Learning Paths. Cancel. Become a Teacher. Get Started. Sign In. Sign Up. Sign Up. Creative Writing Online Creative Writing Classes ...
CalArts
California Institute of the Arts is renowned internationally as a game-changer in the education of professional artists. The transformative cultural impact of our alumni shows why: We bring out visionary creative talent unlike any other university, school or conservatory. An all-inclusive community for a diversity of authentic voices, CalArts ...
Top 10 Best Creative Writing Classes near me
Kalai Selvi Arivalagan. 2. Injambakkam, Chennai. 10 yrs of Exp 2 students. ₹ 200 per hour. Classes: Creative Writing, Course Content Development and more. Teaching writing skills is always a customized one for it demands success based on the needs of the learner. For all these years, the sessions are...